#645 Junior Goes Fishing

We’re continuing with another autumn episode after the dried persimmons.

Later that day, I was walking around the farm, trying to organize my work while admiring the views.

On the way, I walked along the river. 

Or, more precisely, the irrigation channel...

It was dug to secure a stable water supply in the farm’s early days, with the help of the monster army led by Orkubo and Veil’s power.

Thinking back on it now, it was one of our farm’s biggest projects.

Although it’s called an irrigation channel, it’s so wide that it can be considered a river. It also takes about fifty to a hundred steps to cross to the other side.

I thought it would be fun to try making wasabi on the farm someday, and I planned to use this river to grow it.

After all, growing wasabi requires clean flowing water, you know?

However, with various incidents happening around the farm, it had to be put on hold for now. 

Besides, even if I complete the wasabi and serve it with sushi, I can’t imagine the young Junior and Norito will enjoy the spicy taste, so it’ll probably still be wasabi-free.

So, the wasabi-making was postponed again this year. 

For now, I just gazed at the pure flow of this river, washing away my thoughts...

...Hm?

Isn’t there something in the water?

Something’s going upstream... a fish?

“Did this river become home for fishes?”

Well, it all started as an irrigation channel, so no living creature inhabited it, but years have passed since then.

Little by little, life has started to bloom in this artificial canal, from algae to aquatic plants, aquatic insects feeding on them to small fish, and perhaps even bigger fish, expanding the ecosystem.

“Ooh... This is pretty interesting...”

Maybe fishing by the riverbank would be a good idea.

I’ve often gone fishing in the sea, but fishing in a river is a different experience, with different types of fish to catch.

Well then, let’s give river fishing a try!

* * *

I head back home and grab my fishing gear. 

My fishing rod, hooks, nets, and fish basket...

“Dad, let’s pway?”

“Oh, Junior!”

While I’m at it, should I also take Junior fishing with me?

Or is it still too early for him?

But isn’t going fishing with your son one of the top three dreams of a father? The other two are playing catch and playing shogi. And then, there’s the ultimate dream of drinking with him when he grows up!

Should I fulfill that dream right away? Is it okay? 

Alright, we’re going fishing, Junior!

 When we returned to the river, we immediately suspended our fishing lines.

Then again, we don’t know what kind of fish are in the river, so we’ll use random hooks and bait.

If we’re lucky enough to catch something and figure out the trend, we’ll come up with a new strategy.

Since Junior is here, I'll choose a relatively shallow spot and fish side by side.

...

...This is nice.

I like this! Aren’t we bonding like father and son right now?!

“Fishing nut’s diawyyy.”

Even Junior seems to be enjoying it more than I thought.

I was worried he wouldn’t have the patience during his toddler phase, but he seems surprisingly mature for his age and enjoys this activity.

Still, I might get in trouble with Platy if she finds out I let him handle sharp hooks or play by the river where he could drown...!

I’ll closely monitor Junior’s safety as we enjoy ourselves.

“Junior, if you get a bite, tell Daddy, okay? If the catch is too big, you might not be able to reel it in.”

“It’s okayyy.”

What is?

Junior pulls the fishing line out of the water with an oddly confident expression on his face...

“...What’s with this hook?”

The hook at the end of the line isn’t a fishing hook. 

It’s straight and...isn’t this a sewing needle?!

“Fish won’t bite on this, Junior. Are you sure?”

“I’m not fishing for fish. I’m fishing for a nobleee.”

A big catch? 

Well, whatever. It’s probably too early for Junior to be fishing anyway.

Oh, but if that’s the case, I’ll catch a big fish and show off how cool I am as his dad...

...

Hold on.

Haven’t I heard this story before? About someone fishing with a straight hook?

“Having fun?”

Who’s there?

Suddenly, a random old man approached us.

What’s going on?!

This farm is in a secluded location, separated from other people. 

How could there be a stranger here?

And yet, the old man is approaching my son and talking to him like he knows him!

“I am humbled to be in the presence of your esteemed countenance. I have no greater joy than to guide you to greatness. Please, come under my wing and conquer the world.”

Why is he suddenly recruiting my two-year-old son?!

Ah, I remember now!

The person who scouts the fisherman who fishes with a straight hook!

This must be that story!

“Go home! I don’t want you turning my son into some NEET who will turn his life around at age 80!”

“Let’s turn him into a strategist!”

“No.”

Using my parental authority, I politely declined the scout’s offer, and he sadly returned to his own time period.

“...Is it because Sensei keeps summoning gods from other worlds that the dimensional walls are weakening?”

“It’s no use cwying over spilled milkkk.”

Anyway, we should be careful of any visitors who might come from other dimensions.

That being said...

“Dad, I got a biteee.”

“What?!”

I suddenly noticed that Junior’s fishing rod was being pulled taut and bending!

It’s a big catch!

“How?! How did you fish with that straight hook?!”

There are many things to point out, but right now, I need to help Junior reel in the first catch of his life!

I grab the fishing rod and pull it with all my might!

“Heave-hooo. Heave-hooo.”

“What the?! It’s putting up a good fighttttttt!”

I, a grown-up, will grab it with both hands and pull it back! 

This strength is definitely not from small fish like the Japanese medaka!

What on earth has bitten Junior’s fishing rod?!

“Oryaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!”

Finally, we managed to reel it in, and the fish that appeared on the surface was...!

“Oh...!”

It was certainly a big fish.

It’s...!

“A salmon?!”

Salmon are swimming in this river?!

I know it’s also autumn right now and all, but still!

And my son caught one so easily?!

The salmon lay on the ground, vigorously flopping.

Its eyes seemed to be telling us something.

—”Please make me into a delicious salmon meal and satisfy the stomach of the sacred one.”

“This fish came to be caught by itself?!”

Is that why it was easy to catch even with a straight hook?!

The beasts of the world are gathering as offerings themselves.

Junior’s power as a saint is rising steadily.

----------

this chapter had two (three?) vague references

one, i believe, is the jiang taigong fishing story. apparently, he used a straight fishhook to catch a fish that would later help him become a great leader.

the fish jiang caught was so impressed with his perseverance and determination that it offered to help him in his quest to become a great leader. he accepted the fish's offer and went on to become one of the greatest military strategists in chinese history.

the other is the random old man and the line 'lets turn him into a strategist'. a neet in his late 20s was interviewed cause he makes 400 jpy (3-4usd) a month and wasn't rly interested in doing part-time jobs (he still lived with his 60yo mother). and then, if he really had to pick a job, he said he wants to be a war strategist (yaru nara gunshi). this line became a meme in japan esp in those forums like 2ch

third is the fishing nut's diary. its a fishing-themed manga that began serialization in 1979. 

it takes some time to research and know the references--if i do spot them--enough to translate them accordingly, but i enjoy it : D